Montreal's Terrasse Season Could Be Bigger Than Ever This Summer

With warm weather just around the corner, several boroughs have announced their plans for our beloved Montreal terrasse season. 

And if restaurants take advantage of these new opportunities, the season could be bigger than ever.

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What are the plans for Montreal's terrasse season?

Ten boroughs — Ville-Marie, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Sud-Ouest, Outremont, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Lachine, Verdun and Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles — are slashing the cost of permits for restaurants who want to set up outdoor terrasses.

The city says permits in the downtown area can usually cost "several thousand dollars." This year, they'll cost between $0-55.

Ville-Marie, Outremont, the Plateau-Mont-Royal, Sud-Ouest, Verdun, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, and Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve are also going to be allowed "enlarged" terrasses this year, according to a press release.

The pedestrianization of certain streets is also expected to return this summer, following project approval.

There are also plans for more Montreal food trucks

It looks like Montrealers will have a lot more street food options this year.

In total, there will be 24 authorized food truck gathering locations across Montreal — more than double the number in 2020, the city says.

Food trucks will be allowed to set up shop as early as April.

"We are very pleased to see a new way of enjoying green spaces through street food in different neighbourhoods, which gives us hope for a prosperous year that will help to stimulate a more secure industry," Gaelle Cerf, vice-president of the Association des restaurateurs de rue du Québec, said in a statement.

Are pedestrian streets coming back?

In 2020, Montreal closed several streets to vehicular traffic and expanded sidewalks in other areas to allow for social distancing and to encourage residents to visit local restaurants and shops.

The city is trying to do that again by encouraging local sociétés de développement commercial (SDCs) to submit pedestrianization projects. 

"In addition to supporting the businesses and restaurants on our arteries, the pedestrianization projects, which will spring from local consultations, will provide Montrealers with places to reunite with their loved ones, as well as to take ownership of the spaces that are dear to them," Billy Walsh, president and CEO of the Association des SDC de Montréal (ASDCM), said.

This article's cover image is used for illustrative purposes only.